I find it amazing to read comments like this by presumably frequent air travellers. Is it a sign of the times when someone would put monetary considerations above living?

There is only ONE answer to the question of what to do if you are told to evacuate. That is to forget everything and just get off as calmly and quickly as possible. When I read of the Toronto incident, I was shocked to read about people trying to get stuff out of the overheads. My first reaction was 'what idiots'. My second was, 'totally selfish behaviour which endangers the lives of others.' My third was, 'did they think differently because they had landed safely and were waiting to get to the gate? Did they have a 'this is a normal arrival' mindset they got stuck in? Did they not realize they were endangering the lives of others and themselves?

LorenPechtel, please take this advice. If you ever hear the cabin crew saying 'EVACUATE', do not hesitate for a second, GET OUT. There is a reason why the evacuation time is set at 90 seconds. That reason is because that is the amount of time in which an airplane can become engulfed in flame. The time it takes for those nearest the fire to be overcome by smoke is even LESS.
https://www.google.ca/search?q=aiarp...hrome&ie=UTF-8

I notice you made a similar comment on the following thread LorenPechtel.
How can PAX be persuaded not to take their luggage in an emergency evac?
Looking at the accompanying photo of that incident, the plane is intact, everyone got off. Note the people with carry-ons on the photo.

Then look at the accompanying photos on this link. The fury over 'hand luggage' plane evacuees - BBC News

Then you tell me LorenPechtel, if you are holding me up from getting off when I am in the front of that plane filling with smoke, would you object if I were to shove you out of the aisle onto the row of seats while you are standing sideways in the aisle getting your 'valuable stuff' out of the overhead bin? Because I can pretty much promise you LorenPechtel, that is what I would do if you were in my way and trying to take stuff with you.

Personally, I think it should be a criminal offense to exit a plane during an evacuation with anything in your hands at all. Possibly an offense like, 'reckless endangerment of others'.